Rail-bond straightener



ns'zsnas' BRICKER RAH BOND STRAIGHTENER Filed Sept. 4, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1928.

o. w. BRICKER RAIL BOND STRAIGH'IIENER Filed'sept. 4, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 3,1921; 1,675,785 0. w. BRICKER RAIL BOND STRAIGHTENER July 3, 1928.

O. W. BRICKER RAIL BOND STRAIGHTENER Filed Se 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 3, 1928.

- uni-ran STATES PATENT oer-ice.

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' BAIL-noun semiannual.

Application as se tum: 4, 1925; serial 10.31am.

My invention is an improvement in bond straighteners for use in straightening rail bonds and the like whlch in the course of manufacture become out of alignment due to strains released inthe strands of the bond. Stranded rail bonds having their ends boundtogether with clips or the like have a tendency to become twisted during the course of. manufacture. Considerable difficulty is often encountered when it is des red to weld such twisted bonds to a rail, since-the clipped ends will not seat flush against the 1111 surface.

This is especially true of stranded bonds wherein the strands are wormed about each other or assume an irregular path from one end of the bond to the other.

It is an object of struct a bond straightener which may be used to quickly and easily straighten bonds and the like in more than one plane. Another object of. my invention is to construct such a. device. whereby the ends of bonds and the like may be clamped and twisted or otherwise be maneuvered to place the bond in. condition to be attached to a rail and to provide; means for indicating when such condition has been attained, a i

Another object of my invention is to construct a device for straifhtening bonds whereby the bond ends wil be placed in a condition to seat more perfectly within a welding mold for a cast welding operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent asa description of an embodiment thereof progresses, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wingsin which like characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same. and 1n which, i

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing a rail bond clamped in place.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, with one of the clamping members removed and showing the bond in place. a

Fig. 4 is a view of a .U-bond adapted to be straightened by my apparatus and showing one of its ends tilted at an anglegtothe horizontal. H

Fig 5 is anotherview ofthe same bond showing oneend nt inwardly.

F g. 6 is a plan View of a second. forni .of my invention showing means for straightening the bond in a plurality of lanes. F g. 7 s a sectlon on line 7 7 0 Fig. 6.

Fig. 81s a sei ion on line 88 of Fig.6. 9 1s a detail of. one of the clamping Fi members showing a bond end in sition to be clamped,taken on line 9.-9 of 6. V 51g. 10 is a detail on line 1010of Fig.9, an Fig. 11 isa view of a bondshowing one end slightly twisted or in a condition .usually found prior to ratus. W In the drawings, Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, lllustrative of one embodiment of my invention, 1 represents a base on which the: appaplacing inmy apparatus is mounted. Standards 2 and 3 are adjpstably secured to the base 1 by bolts 4 whlch pass'through slots 5 in the base.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the standards 2 and 3 and respective various parts carried thereon are simllar to each other.

Shaftsfi and 6 are rotatably supported in bearings formed in the standards 2 and 3 and 2 and 3 respectively, and are provided with collars 7 and 8 rotatable therewith on opposite sides of the standards 2 and 3 to prevent longitudinal movement of theshafts. Counter weights 9 and 10 are. carried by the shafts 6' an 6 respectively and normally tend to rotate them toward each other. Operating or shaft oscillating handles 11 are accured to the collars 8 in any convenient manner and are preferably disposedradially opposite to the respective counter weights on the shaft.

Suitable indicating mechanism consisting preferably of indicator standardslQ and 13 rigidly secured to the rear standards 2 and i be accurately indicated on either of the respective indicating mechanims at 14-15 or 1416. When the respective pointers are in alignment with the adjacent oints 14, as shownin solid lines in Fig. 1 tliis indicates that the bond ends held within the clamping mechanism are in the desired planes (for welding or otherwise securing to a rail).

Referrin now to the clamping mechanism, and 21 indicates the body portions thereof which are similar and are preferably shaped'as shown in the drawings to form vise like structures comprising spaced jaw members 22 and 23. These clamping members are rigidly secured to the forward ends of'shafts 6 and 6 respectively to rock thereing operation.

' Pivotally mounted within a recess 28 in the upper jaw 22 of each clamp is a plate 29 which is provided with plane lower and upper surfaces for engagement with the clip 30 on the bond end and the cam member 31 respectively. A compression spring 32 seated within arecess in the clamp body exerts its force upwardly against'the under side of the plate 29 to normally project the plate upwardly free of the bond end, when the cam member 31 is in non-clamping position.

The cam niember'31 is rotatably and eccentrically mounted within the forked upper jaw 22 and rotates about a pin 33. A handle 34 is provided to rock the cam about its axis and into and out of contacting position with the plate 29. It will be noted that when I am straightening bonds of the type shown in the drawings having clips on their ends are provided with ribs 35, the rib serves as a stop and abuts the end of plate 29 when the latter'is formed against the bond end as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the clamping members as described above are substantially similar to each other and are each adapted. to securel 'hold the respective ends-of a bond and have consequently described only one of the clamping members, like characters representing like parts of both clamps.

7 Figs. 4 and 5-show a U-bond before it is straightened wherein the ends thereof are provided with ribbed cli s 30. v

I will now describe t e operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 which is more particularly adapted to straightening rail bonds of substantial U-shape as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, although the apparatusis not limited to such use as it is obvious that bonds of other shapes may be used with this form of my apparatus.

The bond ends are preferably. provided with ribbed clips as already described. A The bond ends are placed in the clamping devices indicated generally at 20 and 21, so that their flat surface rests u n the flat. surface of the plates 25. The handles 34 are rocked forwardly to cause the cams to move the plates downwardly into engagement with the clipped upper surface. It will be noted that the rib 35 abuts the edge of the late 29 and limits the movement of the bon end into the recess 27. \Vhen the bond ends have been clam ed intoposition the operator takes one liandle 11 in each'hand and by oscillatin the handles 11 of the shafts 6 and 6' elther simultaneously or independently, according to the condition of the bond ends, when placed in the apparatus, causes the ends to be twisted back and forth several times. The handles are then brpught to rest at a point where the respective pointers 15 and 16 come to rest directly in linewith the res ective points 14. In such position the bon ends will be foundto be parallel and in the desired position to be welded or otherwise secured to a rail. The bond may be removed from the apparatus by liftling the, handles 34 releasing the bond en s.

In Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, I have illustrated another embodiment of my invention. In this embodiment, I provide a base 40 on which are mounted clamp supporting standards 41 and 42 and 43 and 44. The standards 41 and 42 are preferably ad'ustably mounted on the base by means of olts 42- passing through the elongated slots 8 of the base. I "Rockably supported by suitable trunnions 45 from bearings formed in the standards 41 and 42 and removable bearing blocks 46 is a clamp carrying base 47 provided at its rear with an upwardly and forwardly curved jaw member 48 removable.

An operating handle 49 is formed on the end of one of the trunnions 45 for rocking the clamp carrying base 47, while a pointer 50 is carried at the outer end of the other trunnion and is adapted to move to indicate the position of the base 47 on an indicating standard 51 which is rigidly secured to the standard 42. The upper end of the member 51 is bent downwardly and terminates in a point 52, which, where in direct alignment with the point of the pointer 50, indicates that the base 47 is in a horizontal plane.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a detail view of the clamping device and the base 47 on which it is carried. The up er end of the jaw 48 terminates in a for ed end 53 in which a cam 54 is rotatably supported on a lilpin 55. A handle 56 is provided for rotating the cam. .In this figure I' have also shown the end of a rail bond 57on which a clip 58 having a rib 59is secured. Therail bond isshown more clearly in Fig.1 Referring again to Fig.9, the end of the bond is adapted to rest with its flat side upon a plate or other plane surface 60 carried by the base 17 .1 1-

Pivoted from the rigid jaw 48st 61 is a clamping plate 62 having a recess 63 therein upon its lower or bond engaging face for engaging the rib 59 of the clip when the plate 62 is in clamped position to prevent 4 longitudinal displacement of the bond end.

opposite direction will release'the bond end and the spring 64 will return the plate 62 to its upper position. i Upon the standards 43 and 44 which are preferably fixedly mounted on the base 40 by bolts or the like, 70, I have provided a rockable clamp carrying frame 71, substantially U'shaped and having trunnions 72 upon which the frame is supported. These trunnions are supported in bearings formed in the standards 43 1 and 44 respectively,'and

detachable cover bearing blocks 73. One of' the trunnlons 72 carries a counter weight 74 supported from its outer endbyarod 75. The rod 75 may be adjustably mounted in the trunnion by a set screw 76. This counterweight makes for easier movement of the frame 71 and results in a more prompt straightening of the bondldue to ease of operation. a

A clamp supporting base 77 havinga ri d standard 82'is fixed to move withthe jaw 78 and its upper end terminates in a oint 83, while a pointer 84 secured to the mine 71 also terminates in a point 85. hen the jaw 78 is in theposition indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 the indicators 82 and 84 will be so positioned that the points 83 and 85 thereof will be in alignment. This indicator mech anisnr will indicate the degree of deviation of the bond end from the vertical while a similar mechanism consisting of a standard 86 rigidly secured to the standard 44. and a pointer 87 carried by one of the trunnions 72 will indicatethe deviation of the bond endrfrom the horizontal. The clamping device carried b "thebase 77 is similar to that carried by t e base 47 and consists of a rigid forkedjaw 78 carrye ing a canned rotatably mounted therein at 55. A handle 56 is provided to rotate the cam 54 into bond engaging position." The bond end rests upona platefit) and isiheld in place thereon by a plate 62 pivoted at 61. r The plate 62 is provided with arib engaging recess 63, as shown, andis normally held in contact with theoam 54 by f a spring 64.

It will be noted, that in this embodiment of my invention I have provided for straightening the bond and particularly the ends thereof, both with res true vertical and horizontal p M188, and that a bond subjected to the operation my apparatus Willhave its endsxbrought into substantial alignment or in the desired position to flatly abut the rails, to which they are subsequently welded or otherwise secured.

The: operation of this form of my inven-f tionconsists in first adjusting the standards 41 and 42 to the desired position with re spectto the fixed standards 43 and44, then clam ing the ends of the bond in the clamp ing evices. This is accomplished by lacing the bond ends with their flat s n aces upon the plates 60, then pulling thehandles fifidownwardly to cause the cams to force the plates 62 against the tension of the springs 64 and into contact with the upper surfaces of the bond ends. The bond ends areso positioned that the ribs 59 seat within the recesses 63 of the plates. As the handles are broughtdown under pressure the bond ends are clamped in place. Then the operator takes hold of the handle 49 with one hand and the handle 81 with the other. By

cttothe imparting an oscillating movement to the handles either simultaneously or separately the bond ends are caused to be twisted. in a vertical plane by the handle 49; and axially by the handle 81 when the latter is oscillated. The handle 81 and the clamping mechanism to which it is attached is also movable with the frame 71 about the trunnions 72 as an axis. Thus it will be seen that the clamping device mounted in the frame 71 is movable about two axes, whereas the clamping device carried by the standards is movable around but one axis. The counterweight 74 aids materially in manipulating the frame 71fabout its axis and can be adjusted by means of the set screw to balance various loads carried by the frame, if desired. In order to determine when the bond ends have been brought into alignment to one offthe trunnions 45 will move beneath the pointed. end 52 of an indicator standard 51 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7 \Vhen the bond end is brought. to the desired position the pointer.5.0 will be directly beneath the point 52 as shown in the figure. The operation of theother indicating'devices is similar to that just described, the alignment of the respective in-' dicator points indicating the desired position of, the bond ends.

' In operating my-apparatus I havefound that the handles 49 and 81 may be oscillated. simultaneously. in quick succession whereupon such bending of the bond ends causes them to heat up sufficiently to increase their bending qualities and also to aid in their retaining the desired position after the ends have cooled oil. I have also found that the handle 49 after being oscillated in the manner described, may be held by. the operator in position so that the indicator 5051 remains in the desired position and when the points are in alignment. \Vhile the handle49' is being held in such position, the handle 81 and the frame 71 may be rocked on their respective axes simultaneously or separately in quick succession heating up the other end of the rail.

bond. After this end is thus heated the handle 81 is brought into position so that the points 83 and'85 will be in alignment while the frame 71 is brought to rest so that the pointers 86 and 87 indicate the desired position. At the completion of this operation the bond ends may be released and the bond taken from the apparatus in a straight.

ened condition.

It is to be understood that varlous changes may be made in this construction of my device without departing from the spirit (if,

my invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Inan apparatus of the class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one of said standards being adjustable, clamping devices carried by-said standards for clamping the ends of a rail bond, each of said clamping devices being rockable as a unit on said standards and independent. of each other, and separate means to rock each of said clamping devices.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, standardscarried thereby, one of said standards being adjustable, clampin 'devices carried by said standards for 0 amping the ends of a rail bond, each of said clamping devices being rockable as a unit on said standards, and means to rock said clamping devices, and indicatin means movable with said clamping mem ers for indicating the degree of inclination of said members.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

a base, standards'carried thereby, one of said 7 a base, standards carried thereb one of. said standards being adjustable, c amping deviccscarried by said standards for clamping the ends of a rail bond, said jclamping devices being rockable on said standards along substantially parallel axes, and means to rock said clamping deviees, one of said clamping devices. being alsorockable about an axis at substantially right angles to said other axes andindicatin means movable about each of said paral e1 axes and said axis disposed at right angles to said parallel axes for indicating the degree of inclination of each of said clampingmemhem.

5.111 an apparatus of the class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one of said standards bein adjustable, clamping devices carried by said standards for clamping the endsof a rail bond, each of said clamping devices being rockable as a unit on said: standards and consisting of bond end supporting bases having recesses formed therein to seat said bond ends, clamping plates pivotally secured to said clamping devices and adaptedto engage said bond ends, and clamping members adapted to engage said plates for securely holding said bond ends.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one of said standards being adjustable, clamping devices carried by said standards for clamping the ends of a rail bond, each of said clamping devices being rockable as a unit on said standards and consisting of bond end supporting bases having recesses formed therein to seat said bond ends, clamping plates pivotal] secured to said clamping devices and a a ted to engage said bond ends, and cams a apt-ed to engage said plates for securely holding said bond ends.

, 7. In an apparatus ,of the class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one of said standards being adjustable, clamping devices carried bysaid standards for clam ing the ends of a rail bond, one of said clamping devices being rockable about a single axis, and the other of said clamping devices being rockable about a plurality of axes.

8, In an apparatus of the class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one of said standards being adjustable, clamping devices carried by said standards for clamping the ends of a rail bond,'one of said clamping devices being rockable about a single axis, and the other of said clamping devices being rockable about axes substantially at-right angles to each other.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one 'of said standards being adjustable, clamping devices carried by said standards for clamping the ends of a rail bond, one of said clamping devices being rockable about axes substantially at right angles to each other,

and indicating means operable by each of said clamping devices for indicating the degree of inclination of said bond end from the desired position.

10; In apparatus ofthe class described, a base, standards carried thereby, one of the standards being adjustable relative to the other standard, clamping devices to grip the ends of a rail bond being carried by said standards and rockable on said standards, one of said clamping devices being 11. In an apparatus of the class described, v

a base, standards carried thereby, one of said standards being adjustable, clamping devices carried by the standards for clamping the ends of a rail bond, said clamping devices being independentl rockable relative to each other about di erentaxesangularly disposed to each other to impartto the bond ends either a torsional or a bending movement and independent means to rock said clamping devices independently of each other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 1st day of Seaizember 1925.

- ORRIN w. RIGKER. 

